With the growth of the Abomosu District
membership, church buildings are becoming more difficult to obtain and use.
Most building in our district are smaller and two rented building were homes
before we acquired the property. We have five branches, Asuom, Sankubenase,
Abomosu, Asunafo, and Kwabeng. Each location has a meeting place for the
saints. Asuom and Kwabeng are rented buildings and we have grown out of each.
Asuom is on the second story that used to be a living flat by an owner who moved
to the US. We have families living below and above our humble chapel. It has a
large center hall with 7 rooms surrounding the center hall. The hall holds 100
tightly with another 30+ when you open the sliding glass doors and use the open
air deck for our overflow. A 10’x10’ room is where Primary is held with 38 to
45 children; another 10’x10’ room is where the 28 young women meet each week;
Relief Society has a 12’x14’ room for the average of 40 women who attend each
week. The Gospel Essential class averages 12 investigators each week and meets
in the Branch Presidents office during their class time. Each week we visit we
marvel at the way every inch of the building space is utilized to further the
work along.
Kwabeng Branch is also a rented
building on the second floor of a 3 story building. It has no windows only
screens over the openings. It has no restrooms only an outside cubical. Their
building also has a large center hall and 4 other rooms. The chapel area holds
80 very tightly but most weeks there are more than that in attendance. The
primary holds 40+ children while the Relief Society uses one room that is 10’x10’
no window. The Branch Presidents office is also the clerk’s office so they
share one very small room. Land is scarce in Kwabeng and through the vision of
our previous District leaders, a 3 acre plot was purchased some 14 years ago in
hopes they would build a beautiful building where the saints could worship.
Abomosu, Sankubenase, and Asunafo
each have a chapel the Church has constructed in their communities. Abomosu was
constructed in the 90’s and Sankunbenase and Asunafo both within the last 12
years. They are beautiful buildings and filled to capacity each week. Abomosu
Branch is in need of another addition or another building soon or they will be
seriously over crowded. We are only overcrowded now with over 200 attending Sacrement
meeting each week and one restroom for the women and one for the men; 80+
Primary children in one small room and Relief Society women in the courtyard
due to no more room in the only classroom available.
These are wonderful challenges and
will be remembered for lifetimes by many of the members. Stories will be shared
of these days and faith will be strengthened in all that hear these experiences
shared by the older members. It is a legacy that time will pass on to future
generations. We all need to remember whose shoulders we are standing on as we
continue the work of the Lord.
On September 12, 2012, 287 humble
saints and several community dignitaries including the Chief for the Kwabeng
township, and his council, attended a groundbreaking for the new Kwabeng
Chapel. It was exciting and rewarding to all that attended. This faithful
branch has struggled to develop and mature in the gospel to qualify for a new
chapel. They are sweet humble people who love the Lord and his ways. The
property purchased 14 years ago overlooks the community and will be a fitting
spot for the Lords house in Kwabeng, Ghana. Elder Dickson, the West Africa Area
President, presided and shared a gospel message of hope, fulfillment, peace and
future growth to all that heard his voice. The Chief spoke of how the community
embraced the LDS Church and pledged his help to further the message of Christ
and peace throughout his kingdom. He was genuine and a pleasure to hear his
concern for all of his people. Gold shovels broke the rich soil, pictures
taken, children participated also, and the construction has now begun. We are
truly blessed and know the hand of the Lord is upon this district and people.
We thank Him and give all that we have for the building of his kingdom.
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